Lil Kleine's ex-manager may keep €450,000, court rules
The district court has ruled against the rapper in his dispute with former manager Nathan Moszkowicz over money from a €3m Sony Music deal, and he says he will appeal.
Rapper Lil Kleine, whose real name is Jorik Scholten, has lost a court case against his former manager Nathan Moszkowicz. Scholten says Moszkowicz wrongly transferred €450,000 to himself after the rapper signed with Sony Music in 2021. The court ruled that Moszkowicz may keep the money.
The Sony deal was worth €3m for three albums. Scholten received an advance of €1m. After his arrest months later on suspicion of assaulting his then-girlfriend Jaimie Vaes, Sony ended the collaboration. He missed out on the remaining €2m, and Sony wanted the €1m advance back.
The two had agreed that Moszkowicz's company would charge 15% management commission. That agreement was never put on paper. Moszkowicz's lawyer said his client initiated and negotiated the Sony deal and was entitled to the commission.
Scholten said he is "hugely disappointed" and believes his past played a decisive role in the court's assessment. "This case is about business agreements, responsibilities and above all trust," he said in a statement. "I will therefore appeal."
Moszkowicz said in a statement that he is not surprised by the ruling. "I have always been clear and have always acted in good conscience," he said. He called it disappointing that the collaboration ended in a court case.
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